Captain Ekitike along with a Triple Gunners Defence – The FPL Squad for the Round
How many The Reds selections might you squeeze into your lineup for this round?
The Merseyside club are coming off back-to-back wins , featuring a red-hot striker in their French frontman going into a fixture with Wolverhampton Wanderers that are heading towards one of the worst top-flight seasons in history.
Should you have retained some of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards , with the funds to upgrade after losing the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, consequently assets from Anfield options ought to be the primary focus.
The weekly selection is assembled using current FPL valuations to fit within a £100m spending limit, as if activating a Free Hit.
A Look Back at Our Recent Selection?
Skipper Erling Haaland (a massive haul) and the hot pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman guided the squad to a handsome 82 points – enhanced by a 10-point performance from Fulham's defender as a substitute.
Our FPL Team of the Week for Matchday 18
Goalkeeper and Defence
David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's defence experienced a slight stumble following the absence of their Brazilian defender, however, they've secured two shutouts over their last four matches , boasting nine to their name before the campaign's midpoint gone.
Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in all but three matches at home this season. Those goals came from a Manchester City superstar, a spectacular strike from Tottenham's forward and a surprise header from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs the Seagulls (H).
This week features a triple-up from the Arsenal backline.
Not only are they the best defence in the game, with a clean sheet in more than half of their matches, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's side that has drawn a blank in two consecutive matches.
The South Coast club have scored just 9 goals from eight matches on the road.
Timber remains a steady option each gameweek , possessing increased offensive potential now he is the full-back role.
Hincapie has registered defensive contribution points in four consecutive appearances, including a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, the Reds, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Managers would love half a dozen Anfield players for this fixture if allowed.
Gary O'Neil's team drew another blank for the 10th time so far during Saturday's 2-0 home loss to the Bees.
The Midlands side have a paltry nine goals all season, with only two away from home. That makes this one of the safest clean sheet opportunity imaginable.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Despite the Yorkshire club's better goalscoring upturn – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the pick is a Stadium of Light clean sheet on home soil.
That would mark a third in a row , with Alderete establishing himself as the best low-cost defensive pick. Managers can select him with assurance in most games, given his consistent 'defcon' returns.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
The English midfielder is expected to take on a bigger responsibility for Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, due to Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.
Recently, Erik ten Hag's team boast the best xG statistically by a comfortable distance – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds United's 5.68.
Their opponents are a Newcastle United team that has not excelled in away matches – with just one win from seven attempts.
The former Chelsea man is likely to assume a large share of Fernandes' playmaking duties, especially on set-pieces, and might play in the number 10 role.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Wirtz is poised for a big haul and a fixture at Anfield against Wolves being an ideal scenario for it.
Wirtz has posted points in three of four recent games – two assists and one 'defcon' performance.
In that period he's made 10 chances, the highest among all Liverpool, and his xG stands at 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).
After recording 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's form cannot be overlooked.
He's Villa's talisman, with an ability to creating a strike with the smallest space in the box.
A fixture to Chelsea may appear a tough assignment, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious at that ground twice during the past three seasons.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Because of his fixture, having no competition for a starting spot, and having notched a five-goal haul over three matches, the French striker earns the captaincy for this round.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to benching the Norwegian goal machine, however because he has a tougher away game this week, the choice is to bet against him with the captain's role.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m